ANOTHER CRYING DISGRACE

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 198, 10 May 1918, Page 6

ANOTHER CRYING DISGRACE

Sir.—The effusion of tho llev. It. E. Dowle, of tho Presbyterian Church, Ekelaliuua, is curious. The' gift of ■£10,000 or JC50,000 by the Jlauawatu Mating Club to win-thc-war purposes is (according to Air. Dowle) the donation of persons who want "to bribe 'or hoodwink tho public, and appear patriotic." They, he says, belong to the class who do evil that good might come, and "are a class of traitors; they are undermining tho foundations of society." But the Protestant Political Association, which raises iIOCUOO for its propaganda work —creating sectional slnfo and religious hatred at a time when all should be united—aro true patriots! And the Prohibition Party, whose policy and purpose have not common Honesty to commend them in raising .£50,000 to destroy their neighbours' property and create no end of ill-will and bud feeling in the country, are also patriots! Y.ct tho Rev. Mr. Jjowle caiis such conduct on the part of lliiese organisations patriotic. God forbid! They proiess to be patriotic; they proiess tuat they jiro making sacrifices to win the war, but they are not giving their funds to win the war. instead, t'heir agents aro rampaging up and down the country seeking whom they may enrage agamst decent loyal citizens.

Then tlio Rev, Dowle assumes the attitude of the l'harisee, and thanks God (so to speak) that tho J. J rotestant Political Association and tile Prohibition Party are not as other men are. True, they are not as good, judged by patriotic ellort, purpose and intention, as the members 01 the Manawatu Racing Club. "By their lruits ye shall know them" is true to-day. Tho fruit of the Jlanawatu Racing Club is a gift of jCfO.OOO or A' 50,000 for win-the-war purposes. What has the Protestant Political Association or Hie Prohibition Party borne? Party, sectional and general ill-will and icligious hatred m the country. And the Kev. Mr. Bowie denounces the Aliumwatu liacing Club and holds the oilier up to your readers' admiration. I am pleased to note that Mr. Howie repudiates the statement he made with respect to the Hov. Howard Elliott's remarks "licing in verv bad taste," but I had thought that the Rev. Mr. Dowle was one of those who, with tho Rev. L. M. Isitt, 6aid: "It makes mo almost ashamed that I am a Protestant," when he considered the scandalous statements made in the name of tho Protestant Political Association. Tho Prohibitionists of the Leif Joncß, Philip Snowdon, and J. Ginnell typo lire-

nil pacifists, iiii'l mm "f their sort R» to be found Among, the Prohibition Party in New !tohi"f 'I icy have aided tiio enemy in EM'*"* >>>' oiidenvouring to embarrass the (love.nment; but thanks bo to Mr. J< oyA Ucorge and oU other patriots at lonic and abroad, these pacifists and tbo Biillior <)i JJi-. at o Victory," with M "«<=.•* ridiculous utterances J.ave boon repeal«lly discomfited ami beaten out of coun* , Wnce.-Inm, otc.. augs , liAßK _